Device for handling rigid sheets



1951 R. c. DEMLER 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID Sl lEETS Filed Nov. 6, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 w Q Ray$1Demler 6W x 4 Hi 1951 R. c. DEMLER 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Filed Nov. 6, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A I @gm m ww/mw 1, 1951 R. c. DEMLER 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Filed Nov. 6, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 276 [TV]. 232 25a 25 24a .4| I i 348 I 278 247' 8 33; I M7 40 I 290 A? l layCDem ler Aug. 21, 1951 R. c. DEMLER 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Filed Nov. 6, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 g- 21, 1951 R. c. DEMLER 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Filed NOV. 6, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ra yCD emler 1951 R. c. DEMLER I 2,565,207

DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Q- s W f game/Wm m CIDem ler Aug. 21, 1951 R. c. DEMLER I DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS "z Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 6, 1947 WW RayQDemlei' ww $mrww Patented Aug. 21, 1951 DEVICE FOR HANDLING RIGID SHEETS Ray C. Demler, Tacoma, Wash, assignor to International Packaging Corporation, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Application November 6, 1947, Serial No. 784,481

(6 Claims.

This invention relates to rigid sheet handling devices. More particularly, it is concerned with machines which are capable of transferring a given number of rigid sheets, such as plywood panels, from a large stack of the sheets to an assembly station where the small group of transferred sheets are gathered for passage on to. further operations, such as wrapping, packaging or the like.

A principal object of this invention is the provision of a new apparatus for assembling a determinable number of rigid sheets in a stack from a separate stack of a large number of the sheets and the provision of apparatus for use with this method. Further objects include:

(1) The provision of a plywood handling and transferring device adapted for assembling a given number of plywood panels for wrapping, such as by the method shown and described in "United States Patent No. 2,215,545;

(2) The provision of apparatus for transferring any specified quantity of plywood panels from a large stack of panels to an assembly station without requiring the use of manual labor;

(3) The provision of apparatus of the subject type which is capable of accomplishing the required transfer of sheets without scarring or otherwise defacing the sheets; V

(4) The provision of an automatic device for handling and transferring plywood sheets from one stack to another stack of smaller size;

(5) The provision of a machine which will receive a stack of plywood panels and transfer a given number of panels from the stack to a wrapping assembly station without injury to the panels and without requiring the use of manual work for the transfer operation;

(6) The provision of a new device for transferring a given number of plywood panels from a large stack to a smaller stack assembled for delivery to a wrapping machine.

Still further objects and a complete understanding of the apparatus of the present inven- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my complete 'sheet handling device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the cam unit of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional top view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a front end sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of the pusher assembly of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a top sectional view taken along the line II|I of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a front end sectional view taken along the line I2l2 of'Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a schematic sectional view showing the machine at the beginm'ng of a cycle of operation.

Figure 14 is a schematic side sectional View of the machine as it appears at the completion of one-half the cycle of operation.

Figure 15 is a side sectional view of the machine as it appears at the completion of threequarters of the cycle of operation.

Figure 16 is a detailed side view showing the elevator hoisting means and corner construction of the elevator of the device shown in Fig ure 1.

Figure 17 is a top sectional view taken along the line l.'ll of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a sectional side View of an additional pusher unit of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 19 is a wiring diagram showing the arrangement of switches and motors of the device shown in Figure 1. V

The basic portions of my apparatus and the general mode of operation can be comprehended by reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15. Thus, the sheet handling device basically consists of an elevator 2, a reciprocating pusher assembly 4, an eccentric 6 for reciprocating the pusher 4 and pinch rolls 8 placed with relation to the pusher so as to receive the sheets pushed from the stack H] by the pusher 4.

The transfer of sheets by my machine is accomplished by a repeated, cyclic operation. A large stack of rigid sheets, such as plywood panels, is placed upon the elevator 2 with the front edge of all of the sheets in the stack abutting a stop member [2 located at the front end of the elevator. Placement of the stack is accomplished by means of a roller conveyor [4 (shown in Figure 1) or other suitable conveying devices. With the stack so positioned upon the elevator, the elevator is hoisted until the top sheet contacts the bottom surface of the pusher 4 when the rise-of the elevator is discontinued, in a manner to be described hereinafter. At this point, the pusher 4, which is continuously reciprocated above the stack Ill by means of the cam unit 6, contacts the back edge of the top sheet of the stack, as shown in Figure 13, and pushes the sheet until it is inserted into the nip of rolls 8, as shown in Figure 14. The rolls 8 are driven at a constant speed so that when the sheet is inserted between them it is pulled along from off the top of the stack, as shown in Figure 15, until the rear end of the sheet emerges from the nip of the roll and it falls into position in the stack I6 contained in the assembly station I8. In the meantime, the cam unit 6 causes the pusher 4 to be returned to the back end of the sheet stack while the operation of the elevator is again commenced in order to raise the top sheet of the stack into position against the bottom of the pusher, thus placing the apparatus again at the beginning of an operation cycle as shown in Figure 13. The cycle of pushing and pulling the sheet followed by the elevation of the remainder of the stack, as described above, is continued until the desired number of sheets have been transferred to the assembly station at which time the assembled stack I6 is withdrawn from the station I8 and the transfer of sheets from the stack Ill continues in order to form a new stack at the assembly station.

The details of my device will now be described with reference to the remainder of the drawings.

The platform 2 consists of a rectangular frame consisting of angle bars and front and rear members 22. As can be seen in Figure 1'7, the side members 20 and front and rear members 22 each consist of a pair of rigid channel members, the side members 2!] being bolted to the top of the front or rear members 22 in such fashion that a rectangular opening is formed between them which embraces the vertical risers 24 of the frame 26 of the machine. Each corner of the elevator frame has a similar rectangular opening surrounding a vertical riser so that the elevator is free to reciprocate upon the risers.

Since the upper edge 28 of each of the side members 20 is above the level of the top edge Bil of the members 22, channel bars32 are fastened centrally and lengthwise of the elevator frame upon the end members 22 in order to give more support to the center portions of the sheets placedupon the platform.

The elevator is moved by a sprocket and chain hoist. Thus, at each corner of the elevator, a bolt'34' is fastened at an adjustable height withina hole 36' in the corner of the platform 2 by means of lock nuts 38'. One end of a chain 4!! is pivoted at the top end of each of the bolts 34. The chains 40 pass over sprockets 42 which are carried upon shafts 44 and 46. held by bearings 48' and. 50. upon the top edge of the frame 26. The other ends of the chains 52 are connected to rods 54 which pass through holes in the floor upon which the machine rests, the rods 54being in turn attached at their opposite ends to counterweights (not shown).

The electric motor. 58 isresponsible for the movement of the chains 40 to raise and lower the elevator 2'. Thus, sprockets 58 and 65 are fixed upon the shaft 62 which extends from the gear box 64- driven by the motor 56. A chain 63 connects the sprocket 58 with the sprocket 68 whichis fastened upon the shaft Ill. The shaft 70', which is carried in bearings I2 fastened to the top members I4 and. I6 of the frame. 26, drives the sprocket I8 which rotates the sprocket through the chain 82.. The sprocket 83, which includes a toothed clutch face, is free upon the shaft 44' and'cooperates with toothed clutch element84 which is keyed to the shaft 44.

4 engaged with the sprocket 80, the shaft 44 is caused to rotate.

The shaft 10 also carries an additional sprocket 88 which may be employed in cooperation with sprocket in order to cause more rapid rotation of the shaft 44 where it is desirable to hoist the elevator 2 more rapidly than can be done using sprockets 5S and The motor assembly is carried upon a plate 99 which is bolted to the frame through slots 92, which permit the position of the shaft 62 to be adjusted relative to the shaft 10 for tightening or changing the chain 66.

A sprocket 94 is fastened upon the shaft 44 at the end opposite to the drive sprocket 8B. A chain 96 connects the sprocket 94 to sprocket 98 fastened upon the shaft 46. Idler I29 draws the bottom portion of the chain 96 down away from the plate I42 upon which the other motor I04 of the unit is fastened.

As will be apparent, rotation of the shaft 44 causes the sprockets 42 at each end of the corners of the frame to rotate raising or lowering the elevator 2 depending upon the direction of rota tion of the shaft 44.

Belt conveyors I65 (see Figure l) are positioned with their top side located approximately on a level with the top edges 28 and 32 of the frame members 2i) and 3i. The roller conveyors I46 are driven by motor I07 through the shaft I08 by means of sprocket III] which is connected by chain II2 to the sprocket II4 fastened upon the shaft I I6 of the belt conveyor I4. Thus, the stack of sheets which is conveyed from the end of the conveyor I4 will be picked up and moved by the conveyor I46 at the same rate of speed at which the stack is transferred from the conveyor I4. The forward limit of movement of the stack If! is determined by the stop member I2.

Operation of the motor 55 is controlled by means of control unit H8 which is carried by angle piece I is upon the pusher assembly 4. The control unit IE8 (refer to Figures 10, 11 and 12) consists of an electric switch I29 having an actuating lever I22 provided at its lower end with a roller I24. The switch IE8 is of a normally closed type so that, unless lever I22is moved to actuate the switch, current flows through the electric line connecting the switch to the motor 56.

The roller I24 rests upon a rod I26 which is slidably carried in holes 528 provided in the lugs I34 attached to the side member I32 of the pusher assembly 4. The lower. end of the rod I25 rests upon a bar I34 which is hinged at the end I35 by means of hinge I38 to bottom plate member Md fastened to the side members I32 of the pusher 4. The bottom plate I40 also carries one or more other bars 42 hinged at one end by hinges I44 to the plate. These fingers I42 have means I46 for limiting the distance of drop which consists of a bolt I48 fastened to the bar I42 by an adjustment nut I58 which bears upon the top surface of the plate member I453.

The side members I32 of the pusher 4 are fastened, such as by bolts I52, to a carriage which consists of cross pieces I54 and I56 and longitudinal frame members I53 which carry the rollers I66. Holes are driven through each of the vertically extending portions of cross pieces I54 and I55 in order to admit a connecting bar I62. At the rear cross piece Iefi, there is fastened a bushing I63 which carries a locking bolt I85, which permits the pusher 4 to be adjusted along the length of the bar I62 so that various 5. sizes of the plywood panels may be accommodated by the machine.

The pusher unit 4 is slidably carried in a horiz'ontal runway I63 which is positioned lengthwise above the elevator 2 at the middle of the machine. The runway I63 consists of two channel members I64 which have fastened thereto roller bars I66 which extend a sufiicient distance along the channel members to permit the pusher 4 to reciprocate for pushing panels of various sizes.

The horizontal runway I68 also carries a portion of the cam unit 6 which is used to drive the pusher 4. This cam unit comprises a horizontal carriage I68 (refer to Figures 7, 8 and 9) consisting of a base plate I16, vertical side members I12 to which are fastened rollers I14 and vertical plate members I16 and I11. These vertical plates I16 and I11 are positioned along the plane of reciprocation of the carriage I68 and have a gap I18 between them. A clevis I80 is hinged by a bolt I82 to the rear end of plate I16 and a rod I62 threads into the clevis I86, thus connecting the pusher unit 4 to the cam unit 6.

The channel member I64 carries a pair of runner bars I84 upon which the rollers I14 operate.

The remaining portion of the pusher driving eccentric 6 comprises a horizontally mounted wheel H86. This wheel is mounted upon a shaft I88 which is carried in a bearing I80 mounted upon one of the channel members I64 so that the shaft I88 is normal to the plane of reciprocation of the carriage E68. The side of the wheel opposite to the supporting shaft I88 has a lug I82 extending therefrom which carries a roller I94. The lug and roller are sized so that they fit snugly in the gap E18 between the plates I16 and I11. As can be seen, forced rotation of the shaft I88 causes the wheel I86 to rotate which, in turn, causes the carriage I68 to oscillate within the runway I63 by movement of the lug I92 and roller I94 within the gap I18.

The other end of the shaft I88 (see Figures 1 and 2) is supported in a bearing I66 which is mounted upon the top frame member 14. A pair of sprockets I68 and 286 are fastened to the shaft I88 adjacent to the bearing I96. A chain 282 connects the sprockets I98 and 268 to corresponding sprockets 204 and 286 which are fastened to the shaft 268.

f The shaft 268 is carried in bearing 2 I 6 mounted upon the channel member I64 and bearing 2I2 mounted upon the frame member 14. The shaft 268 is driven through a clutch unit 2I4 which is operated by the sprocket 2I6 connected through chain ZIS to the sprocket 226 fastened upon the shaft 222 of the motor I 64. The clutch 2I4 is provided with lever 224 to control the operation of the clutch. The lever 224 also serves to operate a switch 225 which cooperates with control unit IIB (refer to Figure 19) in controlling the operation of motor 56. Thus, when lever 224 is moved to close clutch 2I4, it also closes switch 225 causing current to flow from the main control switch 218 to switch I26, which is normally closed, and on to motor 56. When the top sheet on the elevator contacts control I I8, switch I26 is opened and current to motor 56 is stopped, although switch 225 is still closed. Thus, the switch 225 prevents the elevator from moving whenever the clutch 2I4 is disengaged.

The shaft 288 also serves to drive the pinch roll assembly 8. The outer end of the shaft 268 (see Figure 1) has fastened thereto a sprocket 226 which is connected by means of chain 228 to the sprocket 230 which drives the top roll 232 and The pinch roll assembly 8 (see Figures 3, 4, and

5) consists of a pair of vertical posts 246, each topped by plates 241 which have fastened thereto bearings 248 which carry the shafts 250 upon which'the bottom roll 236 rotates. At the top of the supporting plates 241 there are fastened .ehannel members 252 which slidably carry the bearings 254 which support the shafts 256 upon which the top roll 282 rotates. Fastened to the top of the bearing units 254 are threaded rods 258 which pass through the hubs 268 and which screw-thread into the inside threaded hubs 262 and 264. The hub 262 carries a hand wheel 266 upon spokes 268, this hand wheel permitting the hub to be rotated so as to raise and lower the rod 258. The top of the hub 262 is shaped to form a sprocket 216 and a corresponding sprocket 212 is formed upon the upper end of the hub 264. The sprocket 212 is connected to the sprocket 210 by means of chain 214 so that when wh'eel 266 is rotated to raise or lower the rod 258 in the hub 262, the rod 259 in the hub 264 is raised or lowered a corresponding distance. Thus, the gap 216 between the rolls 232 and 236 may be adjusted to accommodate sheets or panels of various thickness.

A master control switch 218 is mounted upon the supporting post 246. Hence, all of the manual controls of the machine are positioned for easy access by the machine operator at one point. Thus, the roll adjusting wheel 266, the master switch 218 and clutch levers 86 and 224 may all readily be reached by an operator standing immediately beside the wheel 266.

The pinch roll assembly 8 is braced by being fastened at the rear portion 286 of the roll support plate 241 to the machine frame 26 and also by means of cross piece 282 which is fastened at the top end of each of the support post plates 241.

The sheet stop assembly I2, referred to hereinbefore, with regard to Figures 13, 14 and 15, consists of a triangular plate 284 which is cut out at the top rear portion to form a semi-circular opening 286 which fits around the bottom roll 234. The very top 288 of this plate 284' is sloped so that it serves as a guide to channel the front end of sheets or panels between the pinch rollers. Another sloping guide member 266 is provided at the other side of the bottom roll 234. This sloping guide 266 which is fastened to the plate 284 by means of bolts 282 and flange 264 serves to guide the rear end of sheets or panels as they emerge from between the pinch rolls. Further, a guide roller 266 may be provided beyond the guide 266 in order to further help to guide and convey sheets transferred from the machine.

When it is desired to use the machine to transfer extra large panels or sheets, an arrangement such as shown in Figure 18 is employed. Thus,

' the rear frame member 268 has a hole 366 drilled therethrough to permit the rear end of rod I621 to extend beyond the frame. A pusher assembly 382 comprising rear vertical plate 364, side plates 366 and base plates 368 is slid upon the rod I62 through a hole in the rear plate 384 and two retaining elements 3H! hold the pusher 362 fixed upon the rod. A plurality of pusher bars 3I2 made of steel are fastened upon the base plate 368. Because of the play created by the flexibility in the long length of the rod I62, it is unnecessary to use the movable pushing fingers of: the typeof panel or sheets onto the elevator 2 by means of a truck or the like instead of using the roller conveyor E i; elevator or machine frame when this isdone, the rear end of the elevator may have attached thereto an extension 3H5 to which a rod 316 is hinged by pin 3E8, This rod passes through the floor supporting the machine and is of sufficient length that it will remain supported at its lower end, regardless of the horizontal level assumed by the elevator. As-can be seen, the bar 3l8 prevents loads or stacks of panels from being run under the elevator.

The present invention provides a new method for transferring sheets of considerable weight and size from one stack in a given number to another stack at an assembly station where the smaller stack is required for such purposes as wrapping for shipment or the like. The invention further provides new machines for carrying out such methods without scarring or otherwise defacing the transferred panels and withoutrequiring use of manual labor except to start or stop the machine at the beginning or end of an operation.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for feeding plywood panels from a stack, comprising an elevator for supporting the stack, a horizontal trackway supported in fixed position above the stack,. a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the trackway adjacent the rear end of the stack, means for reciprocating the carriage, a pusher carried by the carriage to engage the rear edge of the uppermost panel in-the stack upon rearward movement of the carriage and to advance said panel upon forward movement of the carriage, a panel feeler on the carriage, ahead of the pusher, power mean for raising the elevator and control means actuated by the position ofthe feeler for controlling the operationsof said power means to raise the elevator.

2. Apparatus for feeding plywood panels from ing the carriage, a pusher pivoted t'o'the carriage in position-to engage therear. edge of the uppermost panelrupon rearward movement of thecarriage and to advance said panel upon forward movement of the carriage, a vertically movable ieeler carried by the'carriage-aheadof-the pusher to contact the uppermost sheet in the stack, an electric switch carried by the carriage arranged to be closed-when the feelcr drops to a predeterminedposition, and a circuit controlled by said switch for energizing the first-mentioned motor to raise theelevator.

3. Apparatus for feeding plywood panels from a stack, comprising a vertically movable, stack supporting elevator, an intermittently operated electric motor for raising the elevator step by step, a horizontal traokway extending above the elevator and above theposition of a stack thereon, a carriage mounted for reciprocation on the trackway, a pivoted pusher carried by the carriage In order to prevent. damage tothepositioned to engage the rear edge of the uppermost panel upon rearward movement of the'car riage and to advance said panel upon forward movement thereof, a pair of pinch rolls positioned to receive the advanced panels, a second electric motor for reciprocating the carriage and for rotating the rolls, a feeler carried by th carriage ahead of the pusher, means actuated by the position of the feeler for controlling the first-mentioned motor, and a switch for cutting off bothlof-v said motors in unison.

4. Apparatus for feeding plywood panels from a stack, comprising a vertically movable stack supporting elevator, a horizontal trackway supported above the elevator and above the. stack, a horizontally reciprocable rod parallel to the trackway, a carriage mounted on the trackway,

means for connecting the carriage to the red. at a plurality of different positions of longitudinal adjustment, for operation with panels of different lengths, a pusher finger pivoted to the carriage to engage the rear edge of the uppermost panel in the stack when the carriage is moved rearwardly and to advance said panel when the carriage is moved forwardly, a ieeler carried by the carriage ahead of the pusher finger to engage the uppermost sheet in the stack, and an electric motor controlled by the feeler for raising the elevator.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a second carriage mounted on said trackway, ahead of the first carriage and connected to the forward end of said rod, a crank for reciprocating the second carriage and a second motor for driving said crank.

6. Apparatus for feeding plywood panels from a stack, comprising a stack supporting elevator,v

a longitudinally extending horizontal trackway disposed above the center line ofthe stack, a carriage mounted on the traokway, a pusher pivoted to the carriage in position to engage the rear edge of the uppermost panel in the stack, a second carriage mounted on the trackway for reciprocating movement along a fixed, limited path, a rod secured at one end to the second carriageand adjustably connected to the first to vary the position of the latter for operation with stacks of panels of different lengths, a pair of pinch rolls at the front of the apparatus in position to receive a panel advanced thereinto by the pusher, a crank for reciprocating the second carriage along said path, an electric motor for driving the crank and the pinch rolls, a feeler carried by the first carriage ahead of. the pusher, in position to engage the uppermost panel in the stack, an independent electric motor for raising the elevator, means controlled by the feeler for energizing the lastmentioned motor, a clutch between the first-mentioned motor and the pinch rolls and second carriage for disconnecting them from the motor and an electric switch for de-energizing both motors when the clutch is thrown out.

RAY C. DEMLER;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

523,384 Tirrell-et al July 24, 1894 1,174,739 Langston Mar. 7,1916 1,242,355 Langston Oct. 9,1917 1,691,919 Garroll Nov. 20, 1928 1,784,335 Christophel Dec. 9, 1930 2,396,240 Belluche Mar. 12, 1946 2,467,493 Pabich Apr. 19 1949 

